LAUNCHPAD INTERVIEW.

( Jerry with George K in Vegas )

You've probably seen Jerry AKA Launchpad lurking in NYC, seen his name in the credits to a video or seen him riding in All Day or the Bulldog video, but who is he and what's he all about? It's interview time motherfuckers. First set of questions are from me, after that there are a few from Matt Brown, Steveo and Skinny.


1) Where did you get the name Launchpad?

We were riding around one day after watching a video... I think it was Domination or Exit 63... Anyway we all open and shit. Just trying things we saw in the video. I kept getting merked on everything, crash after crash but just got up and kept riding. So I had this really bad one. At least it looked bad. And Danny's like... "yo you keep crashing but you don't get hurt, your launchpad" so everybody kept calling me that. just a name that stuck. Everybody's a launchpad at sometime in their riding career... I think I'm still stuck in that phase though hahaha.

2) Where did you grow up and how did you get started in riding? What has kept you interested after all these years?

I came up in the south BX, Fort Apache is right up the block. Hunts Point down the block. So it wasn't the nicest place to be back in the day. This kid that was in my math class back in high school got me into "doing tricks" but I've always had bikes. We'd be too broke to afford the bus or train so me and my friends always rode bikes everywhere. As for still being around and riding and shit, it's fun to chill with my friends and have a good time. Cruising to spots and doing shit and learning something new once every 3 years.




3)Have you always had that picture as your default Myspace pic? Are you aware that that makes you like the only person ever to never change theirs?

Yeah it's been up there since day 1. I don't really see a need to change it.

4) You were representing Bulldog for a while but aren't now ( like everyone else ). What went down with that relationship?

I rode the frame because Jimmy Mac hooked me up with one for helping out with the video a couple years back when we first started working on it. I was never really on the team. Was just helping to promote the company and put the name out there. Money coming into bulldog meant money for trips and shit. Opportunities to do things and make ideas into reality for the video. But most of it fell through. Either way we all got love for Jimmy Mac. And there are no hard feelings.

5) You left a comment on the Blackman interview saying "FTN"... I think I know what that means haha. What are your feelings on Blackman?

Man... I don't even know where to start with that kid... I'll keep it simple. What goes around comes around

6) How is life as a BMX filmer?

Being that it's not like my full time gig, I don't have any like major deadlines for shit its pretty chill. I try to come out with my camera to the city 3 or 4 times a week, just to film whatever. I cant ride as much because as soon as we roll to a spot and you start messing around somebody will have something in mind they'll want to do so I gotta start filming. By the time everything is said and done people are ready to roll out and sometimes you don't even get a chance to ride the spot.

7) Is it lucrative? Have you ever felt like you actually got the money you deserved for filming a section/video?

Lucrative?. Not for me. I'm not pulling in any 4 figure checks every month for filming or making any videos. I don't do it for the money, if I did I would have sold off all my shit a looooong time ago. It's cool to see shit you filmed used in a video, it's even better when you can show it to some skeet or jumpoff and tell them you helped make that. I wouldn't mind living that life though. Getting some decent money to travel the world and see all this wild shit thats happening first hand. As for getting paid or recognized for work I've done, for the most part I have. It would be nice to get some kind of return on all the money that's been wasted on tapes, gear, upgrading and repairing shit, money doesn't grow on tress and shit is expensive. I'd like to thank Animal, Navaz, Glenn @ Ride, and Marco @ Props for fucking with the baby... no homo. No thanks to Shad Wackleford/Shook/Sin/Odyssey and anybody/anything else they fuck with AFWU. FTNs

8) Give us one funny story from your job as a construction worker.

Nothing funny every happens on a construction site.



( LP with his friend, Edwin )

( Questions From Matt Brown )

Who is Duke Stevens?

The Duke always comes along with me when I go on a trip, Duke Stevens makes his appearance whenever the grease is about to go down. Grime time is shine time for the Duke.

What is your current living situation and when do you and Linda the cat plan on moving out?

Right now the baby's posting back at home base in the BX. But it won't be for much longer. At the end of Jan i have a meeting with some bitchass condo association board.

Where do all the tapes go?

They get lost.

When did you first start riding and who were the first people you rode with?

Damn... back in the stone age like end 96/mid 97 maybe was when I got into it. Wasn't really doing tricks or anything. Just riding around and going places on this hoopty I had. I got into "doing tricks" like end of 97. This kid that was in my math class in high school put me on. I went into this bike shop that was down the street from my school one day to get a tube for the hoopty. And the kid was behind the counter. He hooked me up with a tube and told me to come back so we could ride around. So I go back and he closes the shop and we start pedaling down the block. Right away he starts ODin'. Jumping over hydrants and shit. Manuals, hoping over boxes and shit. Things I never seen before. I'm not gonna lie. I was open after that. We stopped meeting up and riding together cuz he got into some shit in school and disappeared for awhile. So I basically rode by myself for the next few months with some rollerbladers that lived in my building. Cruising around one day with the rollerbladers i met Danny and Billy, through them I met Casio and Rob Ramos, Lou Perez, all the old Mullays heads. Hastings, Rondel, Stretch, and this other goon Free Agent. Through him I met Oba and Snowball, Cy and Scooby Ed. It was just like all these little crews. so many people rode back in the day.



( The Snoff Shack crew sometime last year )


Some one told me Team-X is coming out hard this year what is Team X and who is on it?

Team X is a movement. Team X is me, Bob $, George K, Larry Bird & Robert Parish.

( from Steveo )

Jerry how come your settings are never set right on your camera? You can seriously tell the difference between Navaz and you in the animal trip DVD.

1. I'm more the point and shoot type. Fuck all that other shit.
2. I never bothered to ask Navaz what his settings were so we could get the same or close image from 2 different cameras
3. I was chillin.

( from Skinny )

What is a heavy hitter and how can they get in touch with you?

Any female that's top heavy and wide bottomed. All heavy hitters, jumpoffs, freakhos, and snoffers can holla at the baby threw The Come Up, or on Myspace.

PS: I'll use this space to send some shout outs..
Thanks to Adam22 for this shine time. All my peoples you know who you are. Thanks for everything. Peace.

GLENN PP MILLIGAN INTERVIEW.

1) So let's get the basics out of the way, where did you grow up and how
did you get into bike riding?

Brooklyn NY…I got into riding the first time my friend Anthony Scariolla Stole a BMXplus and we tried to the stuff we saw in the magazines…But then all those kids I grew up with started becoming skinheads, and celebrating Hitler’s birthday and shit. So I started playing Basketball instead, One of the kids I played ball with had a Woody Itson picture taped to his school book, he talked me into fixing my flat and it was on again…

2) How is bike riding different for you now than it was when you first started?

Well “riding” hasn’t changed at all, except I ride way less…I mean my understanding of the business of BMX has changed, and always does, but tonight if I go pedal around the neighborhood and try to learn something new, it feels just as fucking awesome as it did back in the day. In some ways It’s more important to me then it was then. Then I just did it, now I really feel the need to go ride.

3) You've worked for a lot of different companies over the years. Standard, Primo, Ride... how did you get involved with BMX as a career and not just as a hobby?

It was so different when I got started. There weren’t many careers’ to be had. So it wasn’t like when I started I ever thought I’d get paid, travel or have a career out of this. First I started making my own vid NYHC (NEW YORK HARDCORE). Then I did some videos for Base and sent footage into a video Magazine called 20 inch…Then actually Robbie Morales hooked me up, he need someone to film him for a standard video, at the
same time who ever was making it fell through, So Rick (Moliterno) asked if I could do it, I wasn’t sure if I could but I was like “fuck yeah I can” That was Domination, and I guess how I got started in the industry.

4) Word on the streets is that you've broken off all ties with Ride magazine. What prompted that? What are your feelings on what's going on over there?

It’s not a total Break off, I mean I’m not working for them, and I quit mainly cause I disagree with a lot of the direction of the company, but Jeff Z and Ryan Fudger are friends of mine and probably always will be.




5) Everyone has been waiting for a long time for the Flipside DVD... what's the hold up on that project? Is it coming out soon?

Flipside is out during this interview. The concept was based on two road trips; the first went amazing, then second never fully pulled through. Scheduling with Mirra is super hard. He was awesome to us on the first trip, but is a super busy guy. Then Mirra got hurt at X-games, Nigel broke his wrist, Ralphy Broke his ankle and when we finally got a second trip (the NY trip) Harrington got hurt the week before…Shit was
cursed. At the same time, I had reached my boiling point with my boss at Transworld and had quit. During all that I was also trying to finish the Volume Video (ON THE CLOCK). It’s been a busy last few months.

6) You got Blackman onto Volume and are probably the main reason that everyone in BMX knows who he is now, but you had a falling out and he got dropped from Volume. What happened there? Are you guys still cool?

If I didn’t put him in a video someone else would have. Edwin was the one who put me on to Black, Ed did so much for that kid. Black was real hard to take on a trip, he breaks a lot of the unwritten rules of the road, plus he is really ungrateful. He owed me NOTHING, I saw him shit on his friend Nigel, and Bite the hand that was feeding him (Edwin). The guys at the shack were giving him a place to live, the kid was wearing all clothes given to him by sponsored dudes in the shack, and he was totally ungrateful, he was selling parts…now don’t get me wrong everyone has got to eat, but he was eatin’ and he got greedy. Castillo is my friend and I asked him to put Black on, I didn’t ask him to kick him off, but I didn’t argue the decision when it came around either. I know Black kinda blames me for what happened in regards to his sponsors, and I kinda feel bad, but the only person to blame is BLACKMAN. I never in the history of bikes saw a kid get so much in so little of a time and ruin for himself.I hope he pulls out of it, Black is a funny, nice, kid when he wants to
be. I have nothing against him, but I’d never go out of my way for him again.

7) Is it true that dudes at Ride have hated on you for wanting to give New York City coverage?

Yeah, but it wasn’t dudes, just the editor of Ride (Keith Mulligan, who is from NY). It was a conversation that started my downward spiral there. To put it in perspective he was bummed I didn’t include him or them in my concept or Ideas for videos. Which is true, but they never really backed my videos, You’d see massive 10 page articles on Road Fools, I was lucky if I got a caption, and they never needed or wanted to be included before. Livin and Exile and Drop the Hammer were my last two videos, and those went over well, so I new it wasn’t a case of me fucking up.

The thing is Magazines are dying, mainly because they aren’t that different then 8 tracks or cavemen painting on walls, Publishing is an art form but a dying one. So, now the editor is getting on my shit, because they need to pay more attention to “alternative” forms of media. Except the problem is, for me video isn’t an alternative form of media, it’s the primary one. So in an effort to be more “involved” told me that himself and “many others” were bummed on how much I try to include NY and NYC in all my videos. Which is crazy 'cause every video I’ve made since I came to Cali had Cali in it and no one was bummed on that. I really don’t totally understand where the weird “ YOU USE TOO MUCH NY” Thing came from, and to be honest I don’t care. I just realized that the ego of the magazine was going to get pushed into my stuff and I couldn’t really go forward knowing that.

That’s how I ended up with VitalBMX.com and VitalMEDIA. Vital isn’t a bunch of people giving you their skewed perspective on things, I mean there is some of that, but the sites are intended to be way more user controlled. So like any rider can go on there, rate product, upload their own stuff, interact with other riders, and then still get news and pro pictures and videos. The whole Idea is way more in the direction that the people involved can now be more involved, and that is a good thing. Now that I just realized what a fucking commercial I sound like, I’ll be done… So check out “ON THE CLOCK” and then go ride don't you know that the internet is only good for porn!

Thanks to Glenn for the interview. Check out his video part from 1999's street classic, Neighborhood Superheroes. Kinda funny how some of the fish eye stuff he was doing then is now becoming the norm...

Big James Interview.

( Portrait photo by Kim )

Big James is pretty notorious in the NY area for being one of the craziest riders with the wildest style. He's getting more and more well known as time goes by, and a bunch of clips in the Animal road trip DVD have people talking non-stop. We did a quick interview to make sure people know what he's all about:

1) Where'd you get the name Big James?

I actually got the name Big James from a tattoo artist. I was getting my first tattoo, 12 years ago. I was gonna just get James on my arm, but the tattoo artist said if I would've got just plain "James" on my arm, it wouldn't have fit me , because I was too big for it (Even at 19, I was a big guy). He suggested that "Big James" would suit me better. And it did; it fits me perfect.

2) What motivates you to ride as hard as you do?

A dialed bike, great music, good weather, when everybody comes out to ride. Plus it's hard not to be motivated, when you have guys like Ed, Rone, Nigel, Blackman, Skinny and Oba killing spots on a daily basis. Well, this doesn't motivate me, but one of the main reasons I ride as hard as I do is pain from not being able to see my kids, my son Kevin & daughter, T'Ajah. But, laughing my ass off motivates the shit out of me.

3) What was the first time you saw yourself in a video or in a magazine and
how did it feel?

The first time I saw myself in a magazine , it was in Transworld BMX. The photo was taken by Dolecki, who I would like to thank.

I was psyched. Me and my girl bought every magazine we could find from Barnes and Noble, Tower, Borders. Wherever they had that mag, we bought it. My whole family had that mag. At the time, even some of my peoples from Dunkin Donuts had it.

My first video part was in the Animal, Can I Eat DVD; it was a tabletop. Me and my girl rewound and slow-mo'd the clip so many times, that the damn DVD don't work anymore. I need a new one.

4) You're known for boosting some of the highest tabletops and tucks off of banks that most people can't get very high off of. What's the secret to popping that high?

Boosting the banks is the best, besides surfing the banks. To blast out of the banks, holding tucks like holding your breath under the water and snapping tabletops like you're doing karate, shit nothing feels better than that, no trick, nothing. As for what¹s the secret, there is none, except for laying down the murder game.



( Footjam tire grab at the banks by Matt Brown )

5) Is it true you're planning on entering all the bunny hop contests this year? Have you measured your hop and do you think you can beat guys like Ruben and Seth Kimbrough who have won bunny hop contests in the past?

If I could afford to, BEWARE...

My hop was measured once, by Bob & Vinnie. It came in at 47 or 48 inches. As far as competing in a bunny hop contest, against other competitors, last I heard, the highest jump was 44 inches -- by my peoples.

6) Who are you sponsored by currently and what are you filming for?

I'm not actually sure. I know I ride for AM:PM, Prototype and J-T Customs and I think I'm getting flow from Volume. I never heard anything officially, but I believe I'm on Animal flow and I'm trying to get on Team-X, with Willie Lopez & Duke Stevens and Larry Bird. Also, I'm trying my best to get officially put on LRG.

Right now, I'm filming for Prototype, Skavenger, AM:PM and possibly for Team-X, or anything else that comes my way; as far as new opportunities, whatever comes my way, I'm on it.

7) It said on the Animal site that your doctor called you an alien... haha
what did he mean by that exactly?

My doctor can't comprehend what I do with or on my bike and he says my strength is phenomenal; that's why he calls me an alien. There's a few other little things, but that's the main reason.

8) Why did you move to San Francisco from NYC and how long were you gone for? Why did you move back?

Well, my girlfriend moved back to Chicago, so I went with her. We lived there for a year, which was pretty good. Then, she got a job offer in San Fran, so "vroom" we moved there for a year. It was great for her, but for me, I missed home too much. Then, her mom died; that's when we felt the need to go back to our real home, New York City baby!!!

Shout-outs to You Adam, thanks. Also, my wife, Kim, my mom, Ralph, Shane and Oso, Robbie Morales and Nick Benson, Glen Mulligan, Skinny, Edwin, Nigel, Rone, Joey, Bob, Vinnie, Tijon, Ramon, LRG, Erin, Cole, Andy, Russ, Ian, Oba, Blackman, Steve-O, Charles, Marlon, Ralph Berry, Dave, Jerry, A.K.A. Launchpad, Jersey Mike, RahRah and to everybody else that I know in the East, Midwest and the West. Peace!!!

CATFISH INTERVIEW

I didn't feel I could do him justice myself, so Catfish had all his friends submit questions to use for this interview. The product is probably one of the best things that's ever appeared on The Come Up. Check it out:

Who are you? How old? All that stuff?

I'm Zachary Alexander Yankush. I'm a grandpa at 31 years old. I live in Dayton, Ohio with my dog, Simone. My nickname is Catfish. I have an enormous penis.

You've come up over the past couple years. Whats up with that?

I haven't really come up. I've always been here. Just lurking. Bubbling son. No...it's awesome. I think a lot of it has to do with my website.. Catfishcatfish.com . I met so many people in the industry because of it. There really wasn't and still isn't a site like that. I think a lot of riders could relate to my ramblings because they lived the same or similar lives. My website embodied BMX culture. We as riders know we live totally separate lives from "normal" people so riders really related to the site. I couldn't believe how it took off. Next thing I know..I am working in BMX, announcing the fucking X-games and going on Road Fools.

What was Road Fools like?

That was a dream. Every rider dreams about going on Road Fools. I never ever thought i would get that call. At first when Stu asked me...I figured he wanted a commentator..but then when he told me I was going as a rider i was just like "WHAT"? I'm sure the fact that I am a complete baffoon had something to do with it but I'll take it. It was amazing. Watching those boys get down was awesome. Especially the bangers that were on Road Fools 15. It was amazing.

Explain the shift in mindset when the werewolf mask goes on.

I owned a warewolf mask for a while. It was awesome. I wore it everywhere. Long story short..this fat kid that lived across the street from me stole 250 bucks from my house. I gave him every chance to pay me back. He didn't. So one night I put the wolf mask on and waited in his driveway for him to come home from the club. When he got home... I whooped his ass in front of all his boys, a bunch of girls, and a cop. I choked him out and while he was on the ground I kicked him in the face and knocked him out. It will be on the catfishcatfish.com video.

How important was Colin Winklemann to both the sport of BMX, and in your personal life? ( inspiration, motivation, life lessons )

Wow... that really is a good question. Colin was huge to BMX and to me personally for a couple reasons. In the early 90s he was the dude you could count on at contests to go ape shit. He would do the biggest gaps. This was back when I had just started going to contests...I remember being so stoked to just see him at a contest because you KNEW shit was going to go down. I think Colin really pushed the limits before we even knew what those limits were. It also ruled because Colin was from Ohio. Ohio sucks and always has but it's my home and I remember how excited I was that there was this amazing BMX rider..putting in work for Ohio. Jump ahead 5 years... Section 8 skatepark was booming and Nate Wessle brought Colin to Ohio to help build the bowl. Thats where I really became good friends with Colin. We just connected..I guess probably because we were both half out of our minds. A couple years later I have the honor of working for DK and I think the fact that I knew Colin and he put in a good word for me was a main reason I got the job. So here I am... pretty much owing the life I live to a friend that I cant talk to anymore. His death fucked me up pretty bad... just because I don't think he truly understood his impact on people and more importantly on BMX. He continues to inspire me in my riding. I catch myself just pushing it sometimes when a trick scares me... I tell myself... "this is for Colin".

How do you feel about the current state of the BMX industry?

It's awesome and it's lame. It's amazing and it sucks. The industry is so damn fickle that it's hard to answer that from one day to the next. I wish there was more money in it for riders on the comeup (no pun intended), I wish there were more rider owned companies, I wish contests were fair. I think progression in manufacturing has done wonders for us. I just wish more kids understood how things can be improved. Everyone always bitches about not being sponsored yet you are wearing Nike Dunks and a fucking NBA fitted. If we are to keep pushing BMX...we need to spend that way. Fuck the mall. Fuck Lids. Fuck Foot Locker. Oh and Fuck skateboarding on all levels. Why do we keep supporting them and what they do? We need out own shit! BMX has a way more interesting culture than Skateboarding... we need to promote that. Keep our own style. When riders can learn to do that... we'll be headed in the right direction. I get fired up about this shit. It's like hip-hop. You would never see KRS one rocking out in girls jeans. That's not hip-hop. Thats what I am talking about. I'm not saying that we need to conform to one style...not at all. We just need to realize that in order to market the BMX lifestyle..we need to look good doing it. To the outside world...a boy in girls jeans riding a BMX bike is ridiculous. You're not being original if you are wearing girls jeans and doing tailwhips. I know the whole girls jeans thing has been smashed into the ground but FUCK....why would any company want to associate itself with a rider that looks like he fell out of a Dashboard video. If I had my way...Every BMX video would have a hip-hop soundtrack and no tailwhips.



( Catfish with Lil Jon. Seriously. )


How has the contest rider changed over the years?

Actually they really haven't. In 1988 I entered contests against dudes that were hell bent on winning and getting sponsors. I still see that at every contest.

What is more important, doing your own tricks with your own style, or having credibility and doing the "now" style tricks.

Good god. This one is easy. Who stands out more to you? A 16 year old tailwhiping a box jump, or a 31 year old doing a peg manual while dribbling the front end of the bike on the ground? If I am judging a contest...a hang five across a deck wins over a flair.

Best accomplishment on a bmx bike?

A couple stand out for me. I won the King of New York overall in like 97 or 98 for expert street and flat. That was huge to me. It was a series held at Mullaly Rink in the Bronx. So much fun...so raw. I loved it... plus i got to ride NYC three times in one summer. I met so many amazing people at the comps and had the best time ever. I pulled a triple decade in a show one time. I was stoked on that. My first 720 on resi was a big deal. I don't know-I'm old so every day on my bike is an accomplishment. Just the other night i pulled my first tailwhip in over 10 years. That one was for Bradd Simms.

On a scale of one to ten, what is the drama level on a regular day, as opposed to the weekend.

A regular day I deal with a drama level of about 6... on Saturdays its a 7 and by Sunday a 9 or 10.



( Switch footed tailwhip nosepick to switch footer. Peep the sequence here. )

Explain your view on shows, and why they are important to the industry.

I think shows rule hands down. Shows are one aspect of my job and honestly I could do shows the rest of my life and be happy. As riders we all know the first time we saw someone riding BMX. For a lot of us that was the light bulb going off above our heads. Doing shows- I get to be that guy. I love watching the looks on kids faces when I am riding flat in front of them or even better as they are watching someone hit a box jump. Every show I do... there is someone in the audience that gets hooked. I love that shit.

Do you feel you are doing something to benefit the sport, or is it truly just a "circus" industry?

I doubt that there are many kids rushing out and buying DK's because I did a show at their school. I do think that shows help people "understand" BMX more. It's not a circus to them as it's portrayed on TV. When people see shows they can appreciate how difficult BMX is and how skilled BMX riders are. I don't think TV can convey that on a personal level. So the next time they see BMX on TV they will have a much greater appreciation of it.

Best/worst tattoo.

Best tattoo: Loch Ness monster giving a lap dance to a unicorn while bigfoot touches himself and smokes crack

Worst tattoo: Wu Tang Clan (We don't really talk about this one though)

Explain the current state of flatland, and how you are taking flatland to the ramps.

Fuck. Thats what I think about the current state of flatland. It's insane. I have so much respect for kids that are getting into flat. It's so damn hard. I still love it though because you don't need anything, just some flat ground. Flatland today is all about dedication. I like the fact that kids are doing more flatland tricks on street and park. I could never go big so I just incorporated flat onto the ramps. Back in the day we just rode "freestyle" not street or flat or ramps... we rode everything. Growing up watching guys like DMC, Degroot, BV, Nate Hanson, Bobby Fisher, and Rick Molinterno it was just a natural progression. I think this is a HUGE untapped aspect of bmx. There is still so much to be done. I really want to see an uprail or upledge to decade off. Someone has to throw one of those soon. Lino where you at?

What is your rap battle record 100 wins, 2 losses?

Hahha. Not that many. I don't know for sure but in legit rap battles in the clubs-I'm sitting about 25+ wins I have only lost once. I got robbed too. I will lyrically destroy anyone. I put that on my momma.

Does hip hop have a place in bmx?

Absolutely. Hip-hop and BMX parallel each other so much (i.e both relatively new, lots of people making money off both that shouldn't be, still not widely accepted by the masses) . Plus Hip-hop makes BMX look soooo much better than white people screaming. Hip- hop and BMX have always gone hand in hand with me. I swear to God that the first contest I ever entered (OFA, Cleveland Ohio 1988) I rode to Eazy Duz It by Eazy-E. Swear words and all. My dumb ass entered 13 and under flatland riding to the most profane song ever. The dude that put the contest on came up to me after my run and told me i would not be welcome back if I play that type of music in my runs.

You have the power to make or break any bmxer in the industry, what do you look for in a rider and how can people come up?

I wouldn't say that..although I do like to call myself the most powerful man in BMX. I just know a lot of people and a lot of my friends are in the industry. People fuck with me and then I fuck them. There was this dude named New Philly Billy in Ohio...he sucks so I called everyone in my phone that owned a bike company and told them he sucks. Did I hurt his career? Probably not. Is it funny when Mat Hoffman gets a voicemail from me telling him never to sponsor New Philly Billy in a dope freestyle rap? Fuck yes. People that want to come up need to realize that BMX is a business. Marketing yourself is hands down the most important aspect of making it in this industry. You can be the best rider in the world and have a shitty attitude and you'll get nowhere. Attitude gets you so much farther than riding ability. People that want to make BMX better. I am always looking for people that can market themselves. Also being able to compose a sentence without using the word fuck.



Contests vs. video part, what wins?

Video part all day. You can't tell a riders true ability in a 2 minute run.

What is your job?

I am the Team Manager for DK Bicycle Company. I also help out with the System Cycle riders. I do all the TM stuff in addition to handling the Stunt Team. We do a ton of shows all over the place.

Tell us about the job you came from before you got the DK job. What parts of your old professional life do you carry over into the "core" bmx scene.

I worked for Ford Motor Company as an Inventory Control Manager. It sucked but i was making bank. Jobs like that really make you appreciate riding your bike as I would work 12 hour days sometimes. Ugh..it was bad. Plus the fact that it was a union environment and I was non-union so everyone hated me. Plus my Volkswagen was faster than their shitty Mustangs...they didn't like that either. I didn't carry anything over. I left it all there and started fresh when I got here at DK.

I saw you spit in a girls face once, how was that?

If you cross me..I won't forget. That young lady crossed me and never thought she would see me again. I didn't want her to leave without a little piece of me so I gave her some saliva in her eye.

Would you rather ride or announce a contest?

Good question. I like riding contests because I am a damn clown and I think they are super fun. I love announcing too though because I make shit more fun than it normally would be. I would have to say I would rather ride in the comp... especially if it's a good layout.

Best Lou Bickle story you were involved in.

I once pulled into a parking lot of our old warehouse and I saw Lou in the corner of the parking lot huddled over a small smoking mass. I pulled up to him and realized that he was burning money... like a lot. He probably had a couple thousand dollars in 20s that he was burning. They were all counterfit and he was scared of the feds.

Best 4th grade story you've been involved in.

In the same year I personally watched him bite off two separate ears in fights. One I video taped and when we ran back to my car to get the hell out of there 4th showed me that he had a chunk of ear stuck in his teeth.

Explain Local Exposure and how you feel it helps the sport of BMX. Does it make too much of being sponsored? Or is it more about riding bmx with BMX stars.

Local Exposure is an awesome idea. Its a great way to promote BMX, let locals ride with pros, and give ams an opportunity to come up (again sorry) I think everyone makes a big deal out of being sponsored..granted it's nice to get free stuff and certainly helps out riders that wouldn't normally get seen but for the most part LET is just a good time. Plus there isn't just one winner. The riders we meet at each stop are going to stick in the heads of all the pros. Thats networking...and that is one of the most important aspects of the sponsorship game.

Who were your influences in BMX when you were growing up?

Kevin Jones, Chase Gouin, Chad Degroot, Mark Hilson, Chris Rye, Mat Hoffman, Eric Evans, Pete Brandt, Greg MacComber, my little brother Adam, and anyone that made a 'zine.

Best trick you've ever seen with your own eyes.

I watched a trick a couple weeks ago that I never though would be possible. Scotty Cranmer did a LEGIT wallride to tailwhip. Bunnyhop-wallride-tailwhip. Hands down the best.

Future shredders?

Craig Mast, Brett Banasiewicz, Zack Gerber, Charlie Bowers,

Who is Simone and how many casualties has she collected?

Simone is my dog. She's a pitbull and bi-polar as fuck. Her bite count is over 50 people. I tell people don't put your face near her face! Most of them riders. She got Anthony Cico good. Her dumb ass bit my favorite street rider of all time Brad Simms and he had to go the hospital. It was a strippers fault though. She also bit Doyle in the face and he bled.

Why do you talk so much shit on the internet?

I'm actually glad you asked this. I do because we need it. It frustrates me to no end that a new video, rider, product comes out and the message board whores talk shit on it before anyone has a chance to form their own opinion. I understand that it's just the internet and only a small percentage of people online represent the BMX community as a whole, yet it still kills me that morons are out there just to talk shit. Thats perfectly fine...it's America and you are entitled to it. However...when I get fired up..I want to fire other people up. If you talk shit on my friends' video... I'm going to talk shit on your mom. If you talk shit on my dead friend... I am going to make fun of the moles on your face and I am going to mace you when we cross paths. I know how to get to people... I always have. Words hurt way more than fists do. Please keep in mind that I don't talk shit without reason. I have always been a little tiger and I learned how hard words hurt... I cherish that.

Last words?

I just want to thank all the legit riders out there. The ones that are doing it for the love of doing it. I have always been that way... job in BMX or not. BMX is the best thing ever and when you lose site of that... you lose site of everything. So thanks to everyone that has been down. Thanks to everyone that is/was stoked on catfishcatfish.com I owe a ton to all of you. Everyone on the team. All the strippers of the world. Everyone at DK/System Cycle. Wann, Kyle, and Chad at UGP. Povah and Scott Towne at Etnies. Cottle and crew at OBMX. Jim at Konig Wheels. Jeana at Maxxis tires. Marco and Chris at Props. Molly at X-games. Allan and Mary Cooke, Nate Wessel. Steve Luckett. Section 8 Skatepark (R.I.P.) My moms and dad. My dog Simone. Ryan Mills, Brad Simms, Anthony Naps, Ronnie Naps, Zack Gerber, Chris Gerber, BK, Quinn, The secret weapon, Scotty Cranmer and the intimidator. Lianna love. Dane Beardsley. Chris Doyle, Colin Winklemann, RM59, Everyone in Greenville. Everyone with bad tattoos. Most importantly..I want to thank all the haters. Especially on BMXBOARD...you little fuckers make my life sooooo much better you have no idea. Granted I am always stoked to get a huge box of goodies from sponsors but now when I get one...i get even more giddy because I know none of you fuckers are getting it. Thanks for hating me.....it just makes me happier. While you haters are struggling...I'm driving a fresh whip with a fresher whip in the trunk. Holler.

BONUS: Check out this video of a road trip Catfish went on and filmed. His explanation of the events under the video.



This video is wild. Not even too much of me. I filmed all of it though.The first clip is in Albuquerque, NM. Some dude named coppertop thought he could jump a chopper bike. Then me eating shit on a moped. Daddys first 7. 4th grade knocking himself stupid. He almost died from that crash. I had to record it off the TV. Thats me you hear in the background saying "I love it." A very intoxicated double decade in my living room with Quinn playing on mypace.

The next clip is awesome. This enormous man was getting out of his car
at like 2 in the morning. We were on a porch across the street kicking
it with Ice Money. (Long story..but thats how I roll!)
Anyhow..this huge dude gets out of the car with Taco Bell and 4th grade
yells at him 'Give me that food asshole!" and dude sets the food down
and yells back "Come kick my ass and take it pussy!"
I honestly didn't think 4th would step up..but he did. I ran into the
house to grab the video camera. Before I could even turn it on..4th
grade walked up to this dude and broke a bottle over his face. Blood
was everywhere...Then the fight starts. Watch it...it's good.

The last couple clips are Snake. You may know Snake from the Square One
video where he eats the stick of butter. Snake was my dude. I pour
cereal on him.

6 Questions With Mike Ardelean

1) Looking back at old pictures in magazines and videos, is there any one time period in your time as a sponsored pro that you find embarrassing? One style of dress or trick?

Well of course the Mosh Easy Style video was an embarrassment but whatever. Mosh as a bike company easily out-shined every other corporate-owned company back then, despite the wack video, so I just write that off and try to forget the indoor grind box feeble grind they put in, haha. Other than that, the cornrows are whatever... and the footage of me fighting (i.e. defending myself from) Adam Banton in the Samurai video is too funny to regret.

2) Are your pegs gone for good or do you think they might re-appear on your bike in the future? Do you ever roll up to a nice ledge spot and miss being able to just slide a long icepick grind?

I feel like they're gone for good but who knows. Right now I don't miss them at all. I generally keep it pretty simple so I don't really find myself wishing I was hangover toothpicking up 10 to tailwhip. A clean axle grind down a solid rail feels good to me. When I'm at a nice ledge spot, I just mess around with manuals or flat ground. There's always some trick to work on.

3) BMX is clearly more focused now on aesthetic simplicity moreso than ever before. Riders with 4 pegs and front brakes are seemingly a dying breed, do you think that style of riding will ever re-emerge or is brakelessness going to become the standard?

As far as I'm concerned that style of riding isn't dying... well maybe it is but I love watching any style. It's not a BMX issue for me, it's a life issue. The look of a minimal bike makes me want to ride just like the look of a minimal, tastefully done apartment makes me want to chill in it. Less is more for me... clutter gives me mental blocks.

4) Who are the 3 riders you currently find most inspiring?

Eddie Cleveland, Dan Closser, Ian Schwartz.

5) What is the status of your clothing line, Lavar? Do you feel like, based on some of the internet discussion of your stuff that some of your designs might be going over kid's heads?

Not really. My partner Juse is a dope designer but our gear isn't for everyone. We make what we're into and a lot of our influence comes from fashion. Not corny Sunset Strip fashion or wack all-over print street fashion, I just mean we know what we're into. Our idea of what's good is different from what most BMX kids are into, but it's not rocket science. It's just us. We're small, and we get orders for more clothes than we can produce, so we're very honored and very happy. We appreciate everyone's opinion but we think forward, so feedback from forward thinkers is what we take most seriously.

6) What are you working on for 2007 in terms of filming, and your various buisness/creative ventures?

For 2007 I'm moving in as Brand Manager of Mosh, so we'll be able to get going with a lot of team-designed products that were on hold for a while. I've been working from home on Mosh stuff for the last two years, maintaining the team and ads and soft goods and getting distribution and everything else lined up, but we had to chill on
most of the parts we wanted to create until now. Basically Ian Schwartz, Eddie, Rich, Bohan and the whole crew have designs and ideas on deck that will all be coming out in 07, and we all feel like Mosh has a ton of potential that's all going to be put on the table for the new year.

Other than that I'm just riding, filming for the United video, finishing my Ride UK interview, and working on the Lavar Spring line. Staying super busy and trying to keep it all together.

ROBBIE MORALES INTERVIEW

Robbie and I have talked a little bit through email about the BMX video world and the idea came up to do an interview with that theme. Check it out:

1) You have so far put out 4 videos through Fit; F-IT, the Barcelona video, the Puerto Rico trip and now Fit Life. When the first 3 videos came out video piracy in BMX was in it's infancy and nowhere near as wide-spread as it is now. As far as you can tell has this new technology affected the sales of Fit Life?

Ironically it may have helped. Right before the release and when we were doing the purchase order for how many FITLIFE dvds to order, I was a bit skeptical on sales. Fortunately its doing well so the piracy may have sparked some increased interest.


2) How do you feel when you see links to your video posted on BMX messageboards? Are you happy that the video is popular enough for kids to take the time to rip it or are you bummed out that kids aren't supporting rider owned companies?

Honestly I think back to when I was young and I never understood everything that goes on behind the scenes at companies. So much work goes in so when its ripped it's shocking but I doubt riders are malicious. They just want to see some rad shit, so I'm down for that.Hopefully it's so good ya want to buy the real thing, especially if there's bonus stuff that ya can't get online, like with packaging and stuff.

3) There was recently a BMX site hosted by a kid from Europe up for a few months that had links to a lot of current videos on it that was shut down. His argument was that videos are extremely expensive and take forever to get overseas and that he just wanted kids over there to be able to see the newest videos without getting gouged, what would you say to him in regards to him having the Fit video posted on his site?

I mean yeah its a bit harsh to throw it on there, but I want as many people as possible to see what FITLIFE is about. So fuck it, post it up, shit Mikey Aitken fell off a bridge for this bitch...

4) Skate videos are even easier to get online than bike videos, as far as you can tell, do skateboard company owners feel the pinch in terms of sales that some bike companies claim to?

I doubt it, the profit margins are bigger on skate decks so they can eat a loss on vids... For us it may get to the point where we just write it off but its scary dumping 30 G's into a project with the possibility of little return...

5) What are the measures you can potentially take once a video has been posted on a site like Youtube? Is it worth the trouble to contact Youtube or Google to try and have it taken down or is it too much hassle?

I didn't even bother, I got plenty of emails with instructions to email Youtube and Google and threaten them with legal action. Thanks to the riders who emailed in but this a new thing ( piracy ) and my stance was to let it be...

6) Some companies are moving towards putting their videos out for cheap ( Mosh, Lotek, Rodeo Peanut ) or free ( Animal road trip ), perhaps in response to decreased video sales. Have you considered going that route in the future?

Possibly our next vid will be a freeo... I know I would be psyched to get a free dvd...

7) Fitlife used a lot of songs which I can't imagine you got the music rights for. Why did you decide to take that risk instead of going the route of say, Props who license all their songs? How high is the risk of getting busted?

Risk is high but FITLIFE was so important to me and the riders, I wanted them to be represented with no restrictions. I have been a part of videos with cleared music and it usually sucked so I winged it on this one...

One more thing, I think the future of BMX videos is getting better... As long as people want to learn to film, edit and be creative we can get some good shit done... Websites like The Come Up BMX help also to get more content out to the masses... Seems like riders are taking in to their own hands, the way it should be.

Thanks to Robbie for the interview.

Discuss this post on The Come Up Board by clicking here.

Joey Columbo/Hi8tus Interview

First off, get up on Joey Columbo's site (click here) to see some wild photography. The guy is out of Vallejo CA, knows YaBoy, and can ride and party hard. Also, Hubba's Hideout is uncapped and getting sessioned. My boy Jackson gets bossy in SF.

The newest DVD out of the North East of England, 'Hi8us', is being premiered in Newcastle, UK tomorrow night. Its the home of the NSF amongst other things, and Pete Greaves is the man with the plan. Read on for an interview...

1. What's the deail with Hi8us?

First off, Hi8-T-us. Everyone says I should have called it Hi8us but I guess that's how my Sheffield tongue deals with the number 8. Basically summertime last year I realised I had a load of footage saved up so I figured I'd make a vid. Most of that footage ended up not making the cut, basically when I started I wanted to do a vid just so I could get to do the editing side and production side for myself really. Then people started sending themselves for it... Tom 'Poindexter' Bright came on board with a load of footage of some of the Sunderland posse, Scott and Dawson wanted to do sections and basically before I knew it there were a load of people who are shit hot on their bikes involved. Having said all that, The creative side of it was still really cool and if theres one thing that me and Tom totally nailed about this video it's the aftereffects and production. Think yeah right without the budget...

2. Have you drawn on any inspiration whilst making the dvd?

From a creative point of view I loved Yeah Right! and wanted to do some of that sort of stuff with BMX. In terms of BMX videos that have come out lately I wasn't really influenced by anything, I can't speak for Tom but obviously as the starting point of the video was filming it with a camera that I got for christmas as a shared present with my bro 10 years ago theres not too much about these days that I could copy! I like what Chad Shack does with having a theme throughout the vid for the graphics and whatnot in Shook but I think they've been getting increasingley souless since its just the person who can drop the most hammers who he films and not his mates. Not a diss, I will always buy Shook for cutting edge riding but they're just a bit too cool for me. It doesn't make riding look fun, which I hope Hi8tus does.

3. Which filmographers do you like, any that you don't?

Joe Cox Innit. That preview he put up on the net was insane, and it still made it look fun. Wicked stuff. Ones that I don't... Fuck knows. Oh man I've just remembered, whoever made San to Van. Jesus. What a horrible video.

4. As a kid, did you look up to any VHS releases and think 'fuck yeah, im down with this?'

Jurassics Park, and I wouldn't say I was a kid when I saw it but my first BMX vid was criminal mischief. Stock as fuck answer but it's still the best video ever made for my money. Apart from fat pat riding to a radiohead instrumental obviously....

4b. where can i get a hold of the dvd from? Any international distributors out there want to join the hustle?

At the moment it's an out the bedroom operation, the good thing about that is I can just make as many as I need. Paypal £7.50 to pete.greaves@gmail.com with your address and drop me an e mail to say you've done so and I will hook you up. Same goes for outside the UK but make it £8 I guess. I'm making this up as I go along. Distributors get in touch if you want to.

5. If anything, what do you want to achieve with this dvd?

I wanted to do loads of editing and production, hence the multiple edits. I wanted to make some cheese as well.

6. whats the deal with the yanks stealing your dvd's name?

That will wind them up on so many levels. It's canadians I think, and they released their video way before me. However my vid has a different name, was named long before I'd heard of their video, and I doubt anyone in Canada will want to see it so I don't really get why they care. It was pretty good from what I've seen so I don't know why they don't just pipe down and let me get on with what I want to do.

7. any bigups or bigdowns along the way?

The downer was getting the original hi-8 camera nicked by 3 radge cunts. It had some good footy on it so it was canny harsh. Too many up points, we've had loads of wicked days out on our bikes and the big one is just seeing a big box of DVDs that you know you've made. I dare say the premiere will be a sweet night as well!

Any news you want on here, email me at dftudistro@hotmail.com. The weekend is here. Lets fucking rage! peaceout